By Kate Hodges
23rd August 2018
DO Street Life
Playing Out is a grassroots movement that aims to develop models where streets are closed and kids get to play safely for a couple of hours. Thousands of people across the UK are now involved in making their streets, neighbourhoods and cities more play and child-friendly. Find out more here and check out their excellent ideas for pavement games here
EVENT Pooch Party
The annual, free, Clerkenwell Festival is a great introduction to music parties – the audience is as interesting as the performers on stage. As well as bands including Brix and The Extricated and The Voo-Dooms, there’s an air guitar competition, kids area, tarot reader and dog show with dog poetry from John Hegley. Sunday.
EVENT Wings Over Britain
Watching tiny bats flit across the sky in summer is one of life’s great joys. It’s International Bat Weekend, so get out into the dusk and see, hear and find out about our leathery winged friends. There are events across the UK; go here to find a batwalk, quiz trail, bat night or craft workshop near you.Find out more about bats here, find out how to encourage them with a bat-friendly garden here, and, if you don’t spot any real-life chiroptera, make your own!
LEARN and EVENT Plague Village
Every year, the village of Eyam holds a remembrance service, to commemorate the enormous sacrifice made by its inhabitants in August 1665. Bubonic plague arrived via a parcel of cloth from London at the house of the village tailor. The plague quickly spread through the village, but the locals made a brave decision; to stay within the confines of the village in order to stop the spread of the disease. At least 260 people lost their lives. Procession starts outside the church at 2.30pm. Find out more about the incredible story here, or visit the village museum
RECIPE Hamper Scamper
We are making the most of the last big weekend of summer with a mega picnic. The Guardian’s fruity drink recipes all sound incredible, especially the Mandarin-basil Shrub Cooler and Mango and Green Tea Lassi. Find vegan inspiration here – we love the sound of the Raw Nori Wraps with a Spicy Dipping Sauce and Cool Refried Bean Wraps.
